At 1.55 pm Mapuii and Meghana landed at
Lengpui airport which is 32 kilometers from Aizwal. The gear touched the turmac
and the passengers stood up. Mapuii and meghana took their bags from the
luggage compartment. Now the airplane crossed the runway and traveling on the
taxiway. “My parents live in Khawzawl. It is 150 kilometers from Aizwal. Aizwal
is on the way to Khawzawl. I have my uncle and aunt in Aizwal. We first go meet
my uncle and aunt. My uncle is rich. He is a contractor. He can help us. Said
Mapuii. Ok as you wish said Meghana. The airplane stopped. The stepladder is
attached. Mapuii and meghana exited the flight.
Standing on the stepladder Meghana looked
at the airport. It looked bizarre amid sere green hills. Mapuii said “This
airport is the only airport built by the state government in India. Strange! If
not for you I would have felt like a stranger or a lamb missed from the herd.
They both climbed down the stepladder. “How should we go to azwal?” Meghana
asked Mapuii. She assured that there are taxis. They exited the airport “But taxis are not in sight.” said Meghana. We
must wait until a taxi returns from Aizwal. They were sitting in the flower
garden waiting for the taxi.
Meghana remembered that that aerial journey took 2 hours 45 minutes. Look at the fun air ticket to Aizwal costs 3700/- while Taxi journey costs 3,800. Who will travel by taxi?” Said Meghana. Mapuii said “air ticket is 3700 per person. In a taxi four people can travel and the cost for four is 3800/- said Mapuii. Oh! Yeah! said Meghana. A Maruti 800 taxi came. Mapuii called the taxi and talked to him in Mizo language. They got into the taxi. Which language is this? asked Meghana. It is Mizo language with Latin script. “Oh! There is no script for Mizo like Tulu in the south.”
The car was running along black narrow
tar road. There are high hills on either
side of the road. Soon the car crossed an exotic suspension bridge on Tlawng river.
It looked like a bridge familiar in films. “Down below is Tlawang river, the
second biggest river 185 km long.” said Mapuii. “What is the first biggest
river? asked Meghana. Barak river is the longest. The Barak river is 900
kilometres long. It flows through the states of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and
Assam in India. It flows into the Bay of Bengal via Bangladesh. Of its length
524 km is in India, 31 km on the Indo–Bangladesh border and the rest is in
Bangladesh. It is called Surma river in Bangladesh. Said Mapuii. “Like the
river Ganga is called Padma river in Bangladesh.” Said. Meghana.
For a few kilometres they were silent. Meghana
was watching the nature through car window. Tall green trees, mountain ranges,
water bodies… Mizoram is enchanting. said Meghana. “Yes Mizoram is a land of
rolling hills, valleys, rivers and lakes. There are 21 major hill ranges. The
peaks of different heights run through the length and breadth of the state,
with plains scattered here and there. There are several lakes and water falls.
Mapuii was describing and meghana was watching the landscape with awe and
wonder. “There are eleven districts and three big lakes and three beautiful
wterfalls.” said Mapuii again. “I don’t know anything about Mizoram. In fact
nobody in our south Indian states knows about all these things. I wish a lesson
on Mizoram be introduced in the language textbooks. Said Meghana.
The car was passing a tunnel. It became dark.
When the car came out of the tunnel Mapuii said I am afraid of darkness of
tunnels. In my childhood I was crying while crossing tunnels. Meghana said “like
the car came out of the dark tunnel you life come out of the dark marriage. I
will pay the bride price to the groom’s father and get you the divorce.
The car reached Lalbuaia Shopping complex
in Zarkaw Aizwal. I don’t know where my uncle lives currently. He is not
stationary but my aunt Remi is. She is a beautician. Let us go to her beauty parlour. She will take
us home. Said Mapuii. They went into Diva beauty parlour run by Remi. Remi was
surprised to see Mapuii. They spoke for some time in Mizo. Then she introduced
Meghana to Remi. She had only one lady client. Remi sent her assistant to lock
the door from out side to prevent the entry of another client. “she has deadly
intelligence whispered Mapuii to Meghana. Meghana laughed. She quickely
finished the facial and called her assistant to come and open the lock. She
sent the client and the assistant.
Later she took her to Mac Donald area
where she lives. Remi was hospitable asked them to stay for that night. She
cooked food. While she cooked she sang Mizo oldies. “Go and take bath we can
eat together” said Remi. After taking bath Meghana changed to saree. Mapuii
changed to the Mizo traditional dress Paun. Remi changed to Maxi.
She cooked delicious mizo food and served
it into porcelean plates and dishes. Remi said “Mizos are non-vegetarians. They
eat fish, chicken, pork and shrimp. But today I cooked bamboo shoot fry. Chum
chum han (steamed mix vegetable) and misa mach poora (prans fry), meghana do
you eat non-veg? she asked Meghana. “
No, I don’t.” Said Meghana. After eating Meghana said “ The food is really
delicious” Mapuii went into the bedroom
and brought the guitar and gave it to her aunt.
Meghana is the name of a river here. Said
Remi and took the guitar. She is very jovial. She is a guitarist too. She pulled the
cords. Mapuii enjoyed those songs.
Meghana asked for her husband. Remi showed the photo of a man and said there he
is Diriallova.” When does he come home? asked Meghana. He is in his house but
another house ‘laughed Remi.
Diriallova boasts of the numerous young
women with whom he had sex. Mizo young
men’s competence was mainly to have sex with as many women as they could. More
sex more manliness. I am his fourth wife. She finished. Meghana was shocked to
know that she was the fourth wife. Oh why did you agree to marry a man with
three wives? asked Meghana. Remi laughed
and laughed. Meghana was dismayed.
The people living in the Mizo hills are referred
to as the Cucis or Kukis a term adopted by the British writers. Mizos migrated
from the neighbouring countries in several waves, starting around 1500 CE. Polygamy
is the culture of Mizoram since then. Even today people accept it.
A Mizo woman has never had any rights
over property whether moveable, immoveable or even gifts, known as ‘bungrua’ in
the local language, that are given to her at the time of marriage. Her husband
can divorce her at any time and throw her out of the house without providing
any financial support,” she explained.
Only in 2013 the Mizo Marriage bill the
Mizo Inheritance bill, and the Mizo Divorce bill are introduced in the State
Assembly after public consultations. Thank God they checked (stopped) the old
culture with new legislation said Meghana.
Laws change but minds won’t. Supremecourt
retired judge Makhandya Khatzu’s daughter Arundhati is supreme court lawyer.
She loved another lady lawyer Menaka. They fought against the law and changed
section 377 and finally had lesbian marriage. But people have not accepted same
sex marriage. In the entire history of
mankid, in any country, you can see polygamy.
Polygamy is human culture; It is the
culture of the rich and powerful. Meghana
is frozen. They slept for that night. The next morning when they were starting
to Mapuii’s place Khawzhawl. Diariallova came at that time. He gave a valuable
practical hit. “Money works in Mizoram as elsewhere. So, give him ten times or
twenty times the bride price that Mapuii’s father had taken.” Meghana was
bewildered at crazy idea of Diariallova.
“Don’t worry the bride price is normally in hundreds or thousands, he
had taken ten thousand not more.” Meghana
thanked Remi aunt and bade good bye to her uncle.
***
The taxi stand is at Dawrpui which is
just one kilometer to Mc Donald hills. Mapuii and Meghana went on walk. In
every street there is a church. At barabazar
they saw several Maruti 800 cars. Maruti cars are common at sight as taxis in
Mizoram. said Mapuii. “Churches also”
added Meghana
Mapuii said “Like many of its
neighbouring states, Mizoram became part of India following independence from
British rule in 1947. Its rugged hills were once considered wild and untameable
because of the warring headhunting hill-tribes who lived there. After forceful
military subjugation of the tribes by the British, Welsh missionaries were sent
in to convert many of the tribes to Christianity. Today, close to 90% of
Mizoram’s inhabitants are Christians, with church steeples an indelible part of
the concrete mass of buildings in capital and in all other districts. Mapuii
finished and called a taxi.
She told the driver where they have to
go. The driver opened the door. They both got in. The car was going slowly. When it is going
over Remphamly Cinema Mapuii said “Cinema theaters are rare in sharp contrast with
Maruti cars. Meghana laughed. In Aizawl there are only three theaters Remphamly
is the biggest. It can accommodate 55 people at a time. Said Mapuii. Meghana
Wondered. “Here the people are after nature, dance and singing. They have more
cultural adherence. They are not after
movies as in other places. If there is dancing or singing people automatically
join without any hesitation.” said the car driver Lalthanhawla. So they are not
modernized said Mapuii. “No, they are not westernized.” Replied Lalthan-hawla
(hawla = hala)
They
reached Khawzhawl (kaajal) at 10.00 am. The November weather was cool. It was
14 degrees when they stepped out of the car in front of a small slant tin
roofing house they felt the chilled weather. It was a small coloy amid hills.
“Khawzhawl a small town with a
population of 13,000 living in 2000 houses.” Said Mapuii. She asked the taxi to
wait. Meghana looke around and found most of the houses have tin slanting roof.
Mapuii’s Mother and father came out of
the house and hugged Mapuii. They took Meghana in. The house has five rooms. There
was bamboo furniture in the house. Meghana sat on bamob chairs and tables. Perfect! Beautiful! said meghana. All furniture was prepared by my
father. Mapuii said. Wonderful uncle,
what is your name? asked Meghana. “He was a farmer. He doesn’t know English” Mapuii
was explaining. Her father intervened and said “I Little .. little English. Name .. Laldenga.. He went to his wife in the
kitchen and brought her out and said “Name…Lali” Meghana laughed, Mapuii also laughed. Lali
went back into the kitchen. Mapuii took Meghana round the house. When they came
back Lali gave them raice based stew sawchair with mixed herbal chutney. Lali
also called in the driver and gave him the breakfast. They are all eating
except Lali.
The interior décor was beautiful. Said
Meghana. Mapuii said the carvings are done by my mother. She is good at bamboo
craft. Said Mapuii. Later Meghana asked Mapuii to tell her parents why she
came. Mapuii had no nerve Meghana had no tongue (language.) Finally Meghana
explained Lali in English that her daughter fell in love with Manjeet and she
wanted divorce. Lali parlty understood but it was not clear to her. The car
driver who understood meghana, explained the same to Lali in Mizo language.
He father fired, objected and resisted but
finally obliged looking at lali’s tears. Meghana asked him to accompany her
Champai to the groom’s house. Champai is 40 kilometers and it takes nearly two
hours for the journey. His father refused the divorce proposal and denied an
outsider. Meghana fell in soup. Having come all the way she found her self in
hotwater. The father himself is not
helpful. All the neighbours got in. It was very hard for Meghana to convince
people against their culture and beliefs. The driver said “Landenga was not
able to speak against polygamy because he has two wives.” Meghana was at her
wits end. Lali said that she would
accompany Meghana. Only the mother stood
by her side and they started to Champai.
The car was going though small villages.
On the way they say people celebrating Thalfavang Kut. All are joyful while Mapuii’s
face was sorrowful.Thalfavang Kut festival is considered as
one of the most significant festivals in Mizoram. Thalfavang Kut is celebrated at a time when
this weeding of the farm lands in Mizoram is completed by the cultivators.
Thalfavang Kut is one such occasion when the local inhabitants of Mizoram are
involved in a wide array of festive activities.
The tribal groups living in all corners
of Mizoram participate in various cultural events that are organized during the
Thalfavang Kut festival. With vibrant shades of dance costumes the local people
of Mizoram present an awe-inspiring range of performances to celebrate
Thalfavang Kut.
They reached Champaii at 2.00 pm. They
went to the place where the groom Zoramthanga
lives with his wives. There was a great fuss until evening. “She has not lived
here for a few days. She ran away. This is untraditional.” The groom’s father blamed Mapuii’s parents. Meghana was arguing
but she was one. Lali involved seriously but she had to keep quiet at times. Mapuii
spoke occasionally. She said that she does not like the marriage. Finallythe
groom’s father suggested that Mapuii should give his son a child. Pity is that
all his 13 wives started convincing Mapuii. At the sun set they agreed to consensual
divorce and signed the documents. Meghana paid 3 lakhs and freed Mapuii
from the clutches of the meaningless marriage and flew back to Delhi. A queer land with queer customs she said.
***
On the cold night 12th of
December at 7.30 PM Dr. Mayank tied the knot to Manu. Mayur tied the knot to
Kyra. Manjeet tied knot to Mapuii. Three couples are united at the same Muhurt in
Noida’s biggest Wedding hall Saffron Banquet owned by Vishnu Sisodia. Vishnu
and Devaki blessed all the couples. These marriages were not private marriages
like Devaki’s but extravagant and ostentatious marriages that have drawn high
profile business tycoons, sports stars, politicians last but not least private
investigators Mir chandani and Vivek Pandit were also present at the fête. Meghana’s
parents and son were also present at the wedding.
Lakuma was seen in red silk saree. Devaki
sat beside Lakuma on the sofa in the front row. Devaki complimented Lakuma’s red
saree. She thanked Lakuma for for being very helpful. Lakuma thought that
Devaki was thanking her for getting Meghana released. “It is my duty!” responded
Lakuma courteously. Devaki said “If not for Vivek Kyra’s life would have been
spoiled.” This is news to Lakuma. She did not fully comprehend how Kyra was
helped by Vivek because Vivek did not tell Lakuma Kyra’s story. Vivek had a
plan. Devaki was called by Panditji and
she moved on.
Two women in the wedding hall were
talking about Vivek. One woman showed vivek to the other woman and said “He is
the detective who had saved the Bengali bride. The couple who are speaking to
vivek are her (kyra’s) parents. “perhaps they are thanking him for his help.” Said
the other woman.
Lakuma over heard all this and walked out
of marriage hall. She was angry with Vivek for not telling a word about kyra’s
episode. Nobody noticed her except vivek who ran after her. Lakuma started her
car and went away. Vivek took a taxi and followed her.
***
At the wedding hall Meghana stood beside
Mappu and Jittu. Mapuii had nothing but tears for Meghana. Meghana had zero
bank balance. Vishu offered a commercial complex to Meghana. Meghan refused to
take such a huge gift. Devaki gave it with her hands and said “This is for your
son little kannhaya. You are only the custodianof your son until he is grown
up.” Meghana had to accept the gift. Devaki had won her heart with love. Meghana is now a rich lady.
Vishnu gave Kannhaya a buiding in Mathura
for the setting up of hospital. Manu gave kyra her apartment back. Kyra has not
accepted. Devaki mediated with Mayur who inturn negotiated and Kyra. Kyra
accepted to live in the apartment on rent. The rent was not money but bunch of
flowers and a coconut to be given in Mathura in person everymonth. The wedding
hall was filled with claps.
Kannhaya - Manu and Vishnu - Devaki
couples decided shift to Mathura. “I
want to relax in Mathura. My brother will look after my businesses. My Bengali
daughter Kyra and Mizo daughter Mapuii are married. My Andhra daughter Meghana
will marry when ever she finds a suitable groom. I will take her son to
Mathura. He is the little kannhaya for us. I have worked and earned enough. Now
I want peace and pleasure. I think Mathura will give me peace Devkai will give
me pleasure. Meghana’s parents gladly accepted it. Because Mathura is only two
hours journey Meghana can go and see her son whenever she wants.
Devaki held little kannhaya in her arms. “I
will take care of little Kannhaya.” She said to Meghana. Meghana kissed her
son. “Who will take care of grown up kannhaya?” Asked Dr.Mayank. Manu whispered
in his ears I will, I have resigned my job to be in your service. You serve the
people I serve you. Mathura is our Brindavan. Little kannhaya was waving back at Meghana.
***
Lakuma was very serious in her bedroom. Vivek
was back home. “In the marriage they
were telling me that you saved and sheltered Kyra. I am happy for that. Tell me why did you not tell me? I felt very
up set. Tell me? Why did you not tell me? Vivek felt like the same song in loop
for the repeat play. Why did you not
tell me? She was still asking. Vivek silently kept the envelope in her lap that
consists of Kyra investigation report. She opened and started reading. Vivek
went into the bath. Lakuma now understood why vivek did not tell her.
